Labor Day's true meaning often goes unobserved

Saturday

Aug 31, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Labor Day probably receives the least amount of attention of all the major holidays observed in the United States, except for some of those that mostly government employees and banks observe like Columbus Day.

Chad Killebrew

Labor Day probably receives the least amount of attention of all the major holidays observed in the United States, except for some of those that mostly government employees and banks observe like Columbus Day.Wikipedia summarizes Labor Day this way: "Celebrates the achievements of workers and the labor movement; marks the unofficial end of the summer season." I would say the second part of that definition resonates more with most folks than the first. Most people enjoy a day off from their jobs for the last time until the big three holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.In the past, Labor Day should have been a highly celebrated holiday in Lexington. Perhaps it was, since the glory years for labor came before I moved to the city. But labor implies manual work, and Lexington certainly boasted an economy that relied on manufacturing jobs in furniture plants and textile mills.That time is long past, and many idle buildings stand as a sentinel to the city's shift away from a manufacturing economy. That transition remains a challenge for many people; unemployment in the county remains slightly under 10 percent, although a percentage point lower than a year ago, which offers a hopeful sign.Those of us who are employed have seen many changes in our jobs over the past decade as well. Mergers have dramatically changed not only owners for many local companies but cost some jobs as well. Other positions were eliminated as companies attempted to remain profitable during the recession. Businesses took additional steps as well, such as holding off on raises or even reducing compensation, curbing benefits, increasing employee contributions and other steps unfriendly to their workers.Perhaps some of these changes have caused a greater appreciation for our jobs. As we see family members, friends and neighbors be laid off, including so-called white-collar workers, it does cause one to be thankful for continued employment. We may grumble about reduced benefits or added costs, but at least a regular paycheck still shows up in the bank account.I've been in the work force for almost 25 years now, and I've observed other changes as well. I realize I'm unusual in that I've only worked for one employer my entire career. Most people today will work for several different businesses and organizations before retirement. My wife, for example, has worked at five different places.When I started my career, some of my coworkers would retire at age 55. I know folks employed with government can retire at the young age of 52 after a 30-year career. I confess to feeling some envy when I learn about someone who does that. Yet many workers remain employed for longer now. It's not unusual to see some people working into their late 60s, 70s or even 80s today.Perhaps the key question all of us must ask ourselves is whether we enjoy our chosen profession. Some who don't may feel trapped and find few opportunities in a job market that remains constricted. I feel sad for these people. It's never a good situation for either the person or the organization when he or she finds little satisfaction in the job.Others, fortunately, report the opposite feeling. When The Dispatch publishes its annual Women's Section in February, I'm always struck by the number of women who say they love their job, or something to that effect. That sentiment appears in other articles published throughout the year as well. These are the types of people we want to encounter when transacting business, buying items, eating out or engaging in many other activities.Sometimes we have to stop and remind ourselves of the reason for the season, to borrow a phrase often heard at Christmas. That holds true for Labor Day as well. So whether you're grilling out, taking a final dip in the pool or just relaxing Monday, spend a few minutes reflecting about your job. If you enjoy it, be thankful. And if you don't, maybe it's time to take some steps to find a more fulfilling opportunity.Chad Killebrew is executive editor of The Dispatch. He can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 215, or at chad.killebrew@the-dispatch.com.